In vitro activity of perifosine: a novel alkylphospholipid against the promastigote stage of Leishmania species.

Perifosine is a novel alkylphospholipid. Perifosine has displayed significant antiproliferative activity in vitro and in vivo in several human tumor model systems and has recently entered phase II clinical trials. Other alkylphospholipids have been previously used as antileishmanial agents, and miltefosine (Impavido) is now established as the first oral drug for the treatment of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Perifosine showed the higher activity against all tested strains. This study demonstrates for, the first time, an in vitro activity of perifosine against different species of Leishmania in the promastigote stage.